Leaf-spring shackle



S. M. STONE.

LEAF SPRING SHACKLL ARPLICATION man MAY 25. um.

. 1 3 44 Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

S, M. STONE.

LEAF SPRING SHACKLE.

APPLICATION FILED my 25, 1911.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I, II

S. M. STONE.

LEAF SPRING SHACKLE.

APPLICATON men MAY 25. Ian.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

3 SHETSSHEET 3.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL M. stream, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LEAF-SPRING sHAcKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed Ma 25, 1917. Serial No. 170,942.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. S'ronn, acitizen of the United'States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county,Illinois, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inLeaf-Sprin Shackles, of which the following is a spool cation.

M invention relates to improvements in shac les for the leaf springswhich are used between the runnin gears and bodies of metor Vehicles. Ical the invention a shock absorber. It is a supplemental sprin cushion,which amplifies and softens the yielding action of the leaf spring anddelays or slows down the rebound thereof. It enhances the comfort of thepersons in the vehicle and goes far as a protection against road shockswhich might otherwise break the springs and connected parts.

There are two general classes of load-can ryin leaf springs. In the oneclass, the shac led end of the spring tends to separate from itscompanion spring or frame memher. A leaf spring of the other class hasan opposite action and tends to close upon the part to which it isshackled. My shock absorber is characterized by a coiled spring and byproviding for two distinct relations of the parts which hold thisspring, so that the device, in the one case, is made a distensibleshackle, and in the other, is made a compressible shackle; thus I adaptit for use with both classes of leaf springs.

The invention will be understood readily on reference to the drawingswhich form part of this specification, and in which:

Figures 1, 2, 8, e, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating severaluses of my distensible shackles or shock absorbers:- Figs. 7, 8 9 and 10are like views illustrating the uses of my compression type shackles orshock absoflJers;-'-Figl 11 is anenlargeil side View of the elasticshackle ;'Fi'g. 12 is a like View of a compression shackle ;Fig. 13shows how the shackle is adapted to platform springs ;Fi s. 14 to 19 arefurther enlargements of t 1e distensible type of the shock absorber,Fig.15 being a section on the line 1515 of Fig. 16 except that the springsare shown in this vie\v;Fig. 16 being a section on the line 16-16 ofFig. 14 except that the springs are omitted better to disclose theconstruction of certain parts Fi 17 being a section on line 1717 of ig.15;Fig. 18 being a section on line 18-48 of Fig. 15; and Fig, 19 being asection on line I9--19of Fig. 15.

Figs. 20 to 25 inclusive are similar views of the compression type shockabsorber, Fig. 20 being an elevation; Fig. 21 being a vertical sectionsubstantially on line 21-21 of Fig. 22 except that the springs areshown; Fig. 22 being a vertical section sub stantially on the line22--22 of Fig. 20 except that the springs are omitted better to disclosethe construction of certain of the parts; Fig. 23 being a transversesection on line 23 23 of Fig. 21; Fig. 24 bein a transi'ers'e' sectionon the line 2-124 of *ig. 21; and Fig. 25 being a transverse section online 25-25 of Fig. 21. The springs are omitted in Figs. 23, 21 and 25.

My invention is adapted for use with automobile leaf springs of allkinds. The drawings disclose man 1 of the special uses. Thus Fig. 1shows a fu l elliptic spring, of a form having its members shackled atboth ends, and making two of my dist'ensible shackles (of) the desirableequipment. In Fig. 2 the members of the full elliptic leaf spring arep'ivotally joined at one end; and hence only one elastic shackle isrequired. Fig. 3' illustrates the application of the distensfibleshackle to a three 'uarter elliptic leaf spring of the kind in W richthe memhere tend to se arate at their shackled ends. Fig. 4 illustratesa half or semi-elliptic spring with a distensible shackle joining thefree end of the leaf sprin to the overhangin end, 1, of the automo'ileframe, Fig. 5 illustrates a leaf spring of the cantaliver type, samebeing fulcrunicd a? point, 3, on automobile frame, 4, with a cistensiblesfliackle,'il, lietw'een its forward end, 5,

the frame, 4-. Fig; 6 illustrates sition of the defensible shacklebetween the members, 6 and 7, which constitute the platform springs ofthe automobile, 8.

Obviously, the shackled end of each main spring, X, appearing in Figs. 1to 6, tends to se arate fronithc other spring, 01' from the ram'emember, to which it is joined, hence the use of sprin shackles or shockabsorbers ofthe' distensible type. The scenery is true when the leafsprings tend to close upon their companion parts as instanced in Figs. 7S, 9 and 10. In such cases it is necessary that my distensible shacklesshall be of the compression type. This in 7 it appears that the main thepo member, Y, of the three-quarter elliptic spring tends to closeagainst the frame portion, 9, and a compression type shackle (b) isused. A like condition is encountered in the case of the leaf springshown in Fig. 8. The cantaliver spring, Z, of Fig. 9 tends to close uponthe supporting arm, 10, of the automobile axle and hence requires acompression type shackle (Z1). In like manner where so-called flatsprings, u, are employed (see Fig. 10) a compression shackle (b) isrequired between the spring and the frame, 11.

The somewhat enlarged figures, 11 and 12, disclose the difference in theappearance of the distensible and the compression type shackles. Byproviding the main or head member, 12, with cars, 13, as shown in Fig.13, either of the shackles may be adapted for use in direct connertionwith spring members which are right angles to one an other, as in thecase of platform springs. The normal external appearance of thecompression shackle is the same as that of the distensible shackle whenthe latter is in elongated condition. The structural differences areinternal rather than external.

Referring now to Figs. 14: to 19, for the details of the distensibleshackles, and to Figs. 20 to 25 for the details of the compressible, orcompression type, shackle, it will be noted that the devices areessentially the same except in the disposition of the coiled springs. Ineach case there is a main member or head, 12, a relatively movablebifurcated yoke, 15, a cylindrical casin or cup, 16, one or more coiledsprings, 13, a spring adjusting bolt, 18, anda spring follower, 19, thelatter being adjustable on said bolt. The heads, 12 are substantiallyidentical likewise the casings, 16. So far as the operation isconcerned, the chief difference is that in the case of the distensibleshackle, the follower, 19, is arranged between the sprin and the head,12, whereas in the compressidfle shackle the follower is at the bottomand the spring occupies a place between the follower and the head, 12,or to be exact, between the follower and the bottom 15' of the yoke, 15.As best shown in Figs. 15, 16, 21 and 22, the head 12 is circular andcontains the parallel slots, 20. ()n the outer sides the slots arebordered by the parallel upstanding sides or ears, 21. The lattercontain the shackle bolt holes, 22, in the plane of the axis of thehead, 12 and casing, 16. The inner face of each ear, 21, contains twoparallel grooves, 23, which open through the top and at the bottom mergewith the re spective slots, 20. These grooves receive the portions 24 ofthe yoke 15 which define the slot 25 that accommodates the portion 26 ofthe head. In this manner a way is provided permitting relative movementof the head and yoke and positively and accurately guiding the yoke inits to and fro movement. In the upper ends of the yokes I also providebolt holes 27, for the other shackle bolts. In the case of thecompressive type the spring adjusting bolt, 18, passes through a hole30, in the center of the head, 12, and the follower 19, is threaded uponthe lower threaded end 18, of the bolt. It should be obvious that theload in this instance will be carried by the head through theinstrumentality of the bolt and springs. In other words as the vehiclewheels strike obstructions the head moves up relative to the yoke andthus compresses the spring. In use there will be an almost constantrelative movement of these parts and the are therefore subjected toconsiderable friction tend ing to wear away the contacting metal partsand ultimately causin an objectionable looseness. To prevent t is Iprovide simple means for lubricating the moving parts thus addinggreatly to the life thereof. To this end I prefer to provide elongatedslots, 31, in the head, 12, contiguous the slots 20 and 23. In theseslots I lace lubricating material such for examp e as felt saturated orpartially saturated with oil. These pads of lubricating material arepreferabl slightly thicker than the slots and are slig itly compressedwhen placed in position. They thus frictionally maintain their positionagainst undesired removal or loss. As will be best seen by referring toFigs. 16, 17 21 and 22 the lubricating pads press against the innersurfaces of the yoke and the lubricating material is thus enabled readilto find its Way to the sliding surfaces. These pads also serveeffectively to prevent the entrance of dust, dirt and other foreignmaterial to the spring chamber and as the casin 16, entirely covers thesprings from be ow little, if any, foreign matter finds its way to thesprings. A nut, 40, holds the casing firmly in place against lost orundesired movement.

In the case of the distensible shackle, the spring adjusting bolt doesnot extend through the head, 12, but does extend through the yoke. Thethreaded end of the bolt abuts against the under side of the head, 12.In order to center the bolt I refer to provide a central concavity, 41.t will be evident that road shocks will cause the compression of thesprings, X, in this arrangement.

In the distensible type the springs are mounted within the yoke and inorder to prevent undue shifting I prefer to form the yoke sides intoarcs of a circle closely ap proximating the spring as indicated at 42.

It should be noted that in both instances the cup, 16, makes orconstitutes a brace or positioner for the spring adjustin bolt. The cupor shell therefore ali'nes t e bolt. The belt on the other hand forms aguide for-the yoke which slides thereon. In this manner all the partsare maintained firmly and accurately in their proper positions.

It should now be evident that with the same structure disposed indifl'erent relations, either a distensible or a compressive type shacklecan be provided.

claim:

1. The herein described improvements in leaf spring shackles comprisingin combination a head, a yoke mounted thereon for relative slidingmovement, a bolt depending from the head extending through the lower endof the shackle, a follower threaded on the lower end of the bolt, aspring interposed between the follower and the lower end of the yoke,and a casing inclosing the spring, enga ing the head, and positioningthe lower en of the bolt.

2. The herein described improvements in leaf spring shackles comprising.in combination an annealed cast iron head, a yoke mounted thereon forrelative sliding move ment, a sprin to retard relative sliding movement,an a bolt for adjusting the spring, said yoke and head being formed topermit such placement of the yoke as will constitute a distensibleshackle in one instance and a compressible shackle in the other and saidhead being of a shape to re ceive an opening to accommodate the adjusting bolt when the device is to constitute a compressible shackle.

3. The herein described improvements in leaf spring shackles comprisingin combination a head formed with u standing cars, a strap metal yokemounted or movement relative to the head and slidably engaging the ears,a bolt for adjusting the spring, said yoke and head being formed topermit such placement of the yoke as will constitute a distcnsibleshackle in one instance and a compressible shackle in the other and saidhead being adapted to receive a bolt opening to accommodate theadjusting bolt when the device is to constitute a compressible shackle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22 day of May,1917.

SAMUEL M. STONE.

